Two long-acting ß 2 -adrenergic agonists (LABAs), salmeterol and formoterol, have been demonstrated to be safe and effective agents in children, both in terms of bronchodilation and prevention of exercise-induced bronchospasm. Their onsets of action differ, with formoterol having an onset similar to albuterol (3 minutes), while salmeterol has a slower onset of action (10–20 minutes). Following a single-dose administration, both agents demonstrate durations of action up to 12 hours. Following regular twice-daily administration, bronchodilation remains effective; however, a level of tolerance (or tachyphylaxis) (more…)

Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) is a functional respiratory tract disorder resulting from paradoxical adduction of the vocal cords, complicates the diagnosis and management of common respiratory tract problems, including asthma. The recognition of VCD in a patient with atypical or difficult-to-control asthma is critical in minimizing symptoms and potential side-effects associated with treatment of severe asthma. The symptoms of VCD are not unique to the disorder and include cough, wheeze, stridor, dyspnea, hoarseness, and choking. (more…)

The genetic basis of asthma heritability has been extensively studied and the studies are yielding some understanding. There is, as yet, no set genetic pattern that predicts presence of asthma or defines it severity. There are usually reasons or risk of asthma factors that makes someone susceptible to asthma and respiratory allergy problems. Asthma doesn’t just happen randomly to anyone without asthma gene factors risk factors.

Let’s consider some asthma risk factors and see how they increase the chance that a individual will have the asthma signs or symptoms of cough, wheezing, as well as shortness of breathing associated with the disease. After determining your personal risk factors for asthma, decide on the ones you can control as well as try to make some lifestyle changes. Avoidance of the risk factors you can control is important in preventing asthma symptoms. While you cannot change your own gender to family history, you can avoid smoking with asthma, breathing polluted air, and obesity. Take control of your asthma by controlling the asthma risk factors. By understanding all of the risk factors, you are able to prevent to control your asthma.

Genetic factors cannot explain the rise in asthma prevalence, morbidity, or mortality. However, a small change in the prevalence of relevant environmental exposures could explain a significant rise in disease prevalence among genetically susceptible individuals. Gene-environment interaction, defined as the co-participation of genetic and environmental factors, is particularly relevant to the etiology of asthma morbidity, especially in individuals who experience a disproportionate burden of environmental exposures. Relevant exposures include smoking, stress, nutritional factors, infections, allergens, and occupational asthma exposures. In addition, racial/ethnic variability in the distribution of genetic polymorphisms can potentially modify the response to pharmacotherapeutic agents, such as the ß 2 -adrenergic receptor. A genetic polymorphism in the ß 2 -adrenergic receptor gene has been associated with asthma severity, as well as with the susceptibility to develop asthma among individuals who smoked.

Childhood asthma happens more frequently in boys than in girls. It is still not known precisely why this occurs even though some experts find a young male’s airway size is small compared to the female’s airway, that may contribute to increased risk of wheezing after a cold or perhaps other viral infection. Around age 20, the ratio of asthma between people is the same. At age 40, more females than men have adult asthma.

The inherited genetic makeup predisposes you to having asthma. In fact, it’s thought that three-fifths of all asthma cases are hereditary. Based on CDC report, if a person has a parent with asthma, there is 3 to 6 times more probably to develop asthma than someone who does definitely not have a parent with asthma.

This article focuses on symptoms of exercise induced asthma. Exercise can be a trigger factor when asthma is not well controlled. People with asthma should not avoid any form of exercise. It is advisable to exercise to keep the lungs and body in good physiological state. Doing regular exercise will strengthens the respiratory muscles. It will also increase your immune system and maintain a healthy weight. Those advantages can improve body health condition in the long term. The key to asthma exercise is to have a total control of asthma symptoms before to starting a fitness program. (more…)

Asthma treatment has one main goal to maintain a normal and healthy lifestyle, including exercise and other physical activities. People with asthma are get benefit from regular exercise. Regular exercise helps increase lung capacity that allows the lungs to function more efficiently. There are many good medications for asthma and allergies on the market today. They have some disadvantages and some prescription drugs that only treat and reduce the symptoms of asthma during exercise. (more…)

Oral allergy syndrome has been most often reported in people who have respiratory allergy (such as hay fever) to specific plant pollens. The pollens most often implicated are produced by :

• Birch and alder trees
• Ragweed (more…)

Up to 85% of asthmatics patients have symptoms of wheezing during or after exercise. Moreover, many patients diagnosed with allergies or asthma have family allergy history and bronchospasm. Bronchospasm or a bronchial spasm is a sudden constriction of the muscles in the walls of the bronchioles. Bronchospasm is one of the condition or tightness of the airways caused by exercise. (more…)

The worst part of the holidays is that I can not play all day with my cousins and friends, “says Michael Pena, 9 years old.

Children and their parents share time together during summer. It is time to take advantage of the sport, game parks, and walks through the countryside … fun in the end. (more…)

Asthma is a frightening condition. I have lived with asthma symptoms for 17 years and the thought of an allergy induced asthma attack is ever present each day. Always being sensitive to the beginning signs of an asthma attack are important so that one can avoid a trip too the emergency room of the local hospital or medical center.

These are the signs to be aware of, yet not always signaling the start of an asthma attack:

Shortness in breathing
Sighing (more…)

Most attacks of asthma, though frightening and uncomfortable, are usually mild and subside within a few minutes with simple treatment. At times though, they can go on for hours. Some attacks are serious - and the sufferer may feel that he is suffocating. Struggling to expel air only makes it more difficult to breathe, and the panic that can seize a patient who is fighting to breathe only makes things worse. In an effort to take in more air, the asthma sufferer may sit upright, or stand. His labored breathing can often be heard some distance away. (more…)